April 7 2026
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Saltwater and surf success Sport — better together Supporting the Fireco Northland Triathlon at Kai Iwi Lakes on April 18 2026, ReSport will be returning to Kaipara to encourage sport …
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p The Kauri Coast surfcasting competition saw lines in the water off the Ripirō coast last week, as more than 300 anglers battled for top prizes. Wild weather earlier in the week calmed for the Saturday fishing face-off, and when weigh-in time rolled around it was all smiles after a day of smooth seas and sunshine. Donations from this competition will soon flow through to local primary schools — a yearly tradition of community support.
New legal move in landfill fight u by Paul Campbell
Council says no to LGNZ The Kaipara District Council has decided not to rejoin Local Government New Zealand, citing a cost-to-benefits …
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Collaboration for conservation Dargaville will be having its first Earth Day Festival on Monday, April 15 from 10am–2pm at the Te Awa …
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A new court initiative questioning proper iwi consultation has sparked new debate over the process followed in an Environment Court decision to approve, with conditions, the Dome Valley landfill. Puatahi Marae, which sits in the Hōteo River Kaipara Harbour catchment of the Wayby Valley dump site, filed an application on March 9 seeking the Māori Land Court to exercise its supervisory jurisdiction in relation to a series of matters. “These have affected Puatahi Marae because of its continued opposition to, and involvement in, Fight-the-Tip objections to the proposed landfill in the Environment Court last year,” said Matua Peter Symons. “The application also raises the validity of the decision. “It was made without prior engagement with the three objecting marae trusts and registered whānau members, and about how those changed positions were
communicated externally — including to the Environment Court.” The new initiative is based on the decision by the Ngāti Whātua postsettlement governance entity, NMWK, to reverse its opposition to the dump plan. Instead it has reversed its support without full iwi consultation. A hui at Puatahi Marae brought together representatives from several Ngāti Whātua marae, Tinopai Resource Management, Fight the Tip, local government, alongside MP Huhana Lyndon and concerned residents. “Puatahi Marae states that it cannot rely on the post-settlement governance entity that undermines its ability to uphold kaitiakitanga, maintain tikanga authority,
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and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting all members,” said Mr Symons. “The opportunity for the five Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara marae to deliberate collectively was removed by several NMWK trustees, who also personally objected, and now benefit from dual positions created by them.” The Land Court application continues to oppose the normalisation of consent conditions that would destroy 12 kilometres of waterways feeding the Hōteo River and Kaipara Harbour. The dump is still subject to another court case, with Forest and Bird having leave to go to the Court of Appeal citing legal river protections to oppose the Environment Court’s decision. ¢